Wyatt: Yeah, except the diner is CLOSED and the place is deserted.
Red: Keep driving to the Cow. We thought we’d just meet you there.
Wyatt: Are you not in town yet?
Red: We’ll meet you at the Cow.
“Welcome home, kid. We weresoexcited about you comin’ home that we couldn’t even be ontime,” I mutter to myself before flicking my indicator on and pulling out, waving my hand out the window to tell the car behind me to follow.
When I get to the Cow, I’m lucky to nab a parking spot right outside the front doors, which is almost unheard of. Looking around the lot, the whole place doesn’t even seem as busy as it should be for a Friday night either.What in the hell is going on?
Locking the truck, I meet up with someone I invited along with me from Anchorage and make my way through the old saloon-style double wooden doors.
The moment I do, the whole place erupts with cheers and applause, the sound bouncing off the walls like a thunderous wave.
My heart leaps as I take in all the familiar faces of home, my dad and Mags standing front and center with huge grins on their faces.
There’s a mischievous glint in Dad’s eyes as he strides toward me with his arms outstretched as we crash into each other for a long overdue hug.
“Damn, it’s good to have you back, kid,” he says, his voice rough and thick.
“You had me worried for a minute,” I say with an emotion-filled laugh.
He pulls back and grabs my shoulders, taking a moment to look me up and down. "Didn't think you could bulk up more but look at you. Anyone would think you've been benchin' the crab baskets instead of haulin' them in."
“They definitely ain’t light, that’s for sure.”
Dad’s eyes are filled with pride as we stare at each other. “Glad you’re home, Wy.”
“You’re tellin’ me. I missed y’all.”
“Not as much as me,” Mags says, hip-bumping Dad out of the way before burying herself against my chest. "That man has been a bear all day waitin' for you to get here."
I narrow my eyes at her after Dad’s claimed her again. “You closed the diner! I thought the damn world had ended.”
“Don’t you worry, Wy. You’ll get your Corned Beef Hash fix tomorrow. Tonight is about celebratin’ you comin’ home,” she says.
I look between them, their love for one another is so obvious now and not for the first time, I wonder how it took them so long to realize they were destined to be together.
During one of our phone calls while I was away, Dad told me about Mom’s letter to Mags and what it had said. He also explained how they had realized that Mom was the mountain spirit—which blew my mind but also made all the sense in the world.
“Hold on, I know him,” Dad says, looking over my shoulder. “Will Cooper? Is that you?”
“Hey,” Will says, stepping forward to shake my dad’s outstretched hands.
“Wait. you two know each other?” I say, my head snapping between the two men. One my father, the other my new boss.
Will's brow arches. "Wyatt Grayson, damn. Why didn't I put two and two together? I met your dad in Anchorage when I was there with Randy. Would’ve been three months ago now."
“Randy Barnes?” I ask, my brows pinched. “You mean Lee’s dad?”
“It’s a small damn world, that’s for sure,” Mags says, stepping forward to shake Will's hand. "Good to see you again. Can't promise a karaoke show tonight though." That gets them all laughing. Karaoke? "Did you stop by to try my world-famous food?”
"Well, Iwouldif the diner wasn’t closed,” he muses. “Iampassin’ through, but Wyatt here invited me along tonight.”
Dad’s brows punch together. “How’d you meet my son?”
“So, funny story there,” I say. “Remember the Captain of my boat?” Dad nods so I press on. “Turns out he has four sons and a daughter… Will and his brothers, Case, Sutton, and Jude are all movin’ to–”
